Plans for a massive illuminated £42,000 sign to mark the entrance to Cambridge’s Mill Road have been ditched – leading to disappointment among traders.

Cambridge City Council has been given a massive cash injection from a treasure trove built up by contributions from developers because of the city’s housing boom.

More than £40,000 was earmarked to create a gateway for Mill Road which was welcomed by traders. But the plan was scrapped and the council has been slammed for withdrawing the funding.

How the Mill Road sign might have looked

The proposal was to erect a four-metre column of bronze-painted letters spelling out the words 'Mill Road’ on a two metre plinth. The sign would have been ‘lit up’ and placed on the green space next to Parkside Pools.

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The project was to create the gateway entrance marker and to provide information about the local area including local history, shopping and community life.

A council report said: “The sign will add character to Donkey Common and highlight Mill Road as a distinctive shopping and community area. The sign was suggested by traders and residents around Mill Road. It is supported by many members of the community, including ward councillors.”

But the move was ditched to the anger of traders.

How the Mill Road sign might have looked

Piero D’angelico, former chairman of Mill Road Traders’ Association, said: “We are all really sad and upset as well as disappointed that the sign isn’t going ahead.

"We traders do everything we can to bring more footfall to Mill Road but the council scrapping this has not helped. They took the money away from us and moved it somewhere else but we do need something to tell people we are here.”

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The funding was to come from S106 public realm funding which developers contribute to when building properties in the city.

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A city council spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Mill Road gateway sign project is not being taken forward by the city council. We regret the confusion caused by the project being inadvertently left on the ‘projects under development’ list which was reported to committee last week.

“This has now been corrected.

“An outline grant application for the Mill Road Gateway sign was provisionally allocated up to £42,000 of S106 public realm funding in October 2015, subject to project appraisal. However, on closer inspection, and taking account of local feedback, it became clear that the proposals were not detailed enough and could not be developed without diverting the council’s attention from other priority projects.”

How the Mill Road sign might have looked

He added: “In recognition of the care and effort taken by communities along Mill Road in putting forward ideas in the first place, the door was left open for them to put forward fresh/alternative proposals for a Mill Road Gateway project, which could be considered again. As things stand, however, no project is being taken forward.”